Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Factors Contributing to the Longitudinal Identification of Successful Older Adults in the Betula Study

ABSTRACT

Studies of successful aging have typically defined elderly who fall in the upper end of a distribution of test scores as successful. A different definition of successful aging requires that older adults fall at or above the mean level of younger adults and maintain this level over time. Here we examined this definition of successful aging in a sample of 1463 individuals between the ages of 50 of 85. Based on principal coordinate analysis of cognitive and non-cognitive variables, we identified a group of 55 (8.3%) 70–85 years olds that were high functioning. This group of elderly showed elevated performance on a range of cognitive tasks. Non-cognitive factors that characterized this group included education and subjective health. The participants were retested 5 years later and the same type of analysis was repeated. Of the remaining individuals who initially were classified as high functioning, 18 (35%) remained high functioning and thus met the definition for successful aging. Years of education was a significant predictor of who remained successful over time.     

The Effect of Holy Quran Voice on Mental Health

This study was designed to determine the effect of Quran listening without its musical tone (Tartil) on the mental health of personnel in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, southeast of Iran. The results showed significant differences between the test and control groups in their mean mental health scores after Quran listening (P = 0.037). No significant gender differences in the test group before and after intervention were found (P = 0.806). These results suggest that Quran listening could be recommended by psychologists for improving mental health and achieving greater calm.     

Psychometric Properties of Maternal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire in a Population of Iranian Mothers

Self-efficacy is an important indicator of a woman’s successful transition to her maternal role and an important predictor of a mother’s infant care behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the maternal self-efficacy scale in Iranian mothers. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 437 newly delivered mothers who were referred to health care centers in Bonab, Iran. A simple random sampling was performed. The research instrument included maternal self-efficacy. Translation validity was performed using the forward and backward translation method. Content validity was determined in qualitative (assessment of experts’ opinions) and quantitative areas using the content validity ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI). Face validity was determined on 30 newly delivered mothers. To determine the construct validity, exploratory factor analysis was used. The reliability was determined in terms of reproducibility via Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) by test–retest and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). CVI and CVR were 0.91 and 0.94 respectively. Further, the reliability was approved both in terms of reproducibility (ICC = 0.98) and internal consistency (α = 0.89). Construct validity was confirmed using exploratory factor analysis (KMO = 0.90, Bartlett’s test p < 0.001) for the scale. The findings supported the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Therefore, it is recommended that the instrument can be used in both clinical practice and research.     

Research in Emergency and Critical Care Settings: Debates,Obstacles and Solutions

Research is an integral part of evidence-based practice in the emergency department and critical care unit that improves patient management. It is important to understand the need and major obstacles for conducting research in emergency settings. Herein, we review the literature for the obligations, ethics and major implications of emergency research and the associated limiting factors influencing research activities in critical care and emergency settings. We reviewed research engines such as PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for the last two decades using the key words “emergency department”, “critical care”, “research”, “consent”, and “ethics” as the search terms. Research within emergency settings is slow or non-existent due to time and financial constraints as well as the lack of a research tradition. There are several barriers to conducting research studies in emergency situations such as who, what, when, and how to obtain patient consent. The emergency environment is highly pressurized, emotional, and overburdened. The time taken for research is a particular risk that could delay the desired immediate interventions. Ethical issues abound, particularly relating to informed consent. Research in emergency settings is still in its infancy. Thus, there is a strong need for extensive research in the emergency setting through community awareness, resource management, ethics, collaborations, capacity building, and the development of a research interest for the improvement of patient care and outcomes. We need to establish a well-structured plan to assess and track the decision-making capacity, consider a multistep enrolment and consent strategy, and develop an integrated approach for recruitment into studies.     

Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Iranian Women of Reproductive Age

Introduction

Quality of life, one of the major concerns of health professionals, is the main indicator for measuring health status. The present study aimed to assess the quality of life and its predictors in women of reproductive age in Tabriz (Iran).

Methods & Materials

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 532 married women of reproductive age using a two-stage cluster random sampling method. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. It included questions on demographic characteristics, quality of life (SF-36), female sexual function index (FSFI), and ENRICH marital satisfaction. The general linear model in SPSS-13 was used to determine the predictors of quality of life.

Results

The mean (standard deviation, SD) score of physical and mental health was 62.2 (17.1) and 60.3 (18.5), respectively (from an attainable score range of 0–100). The highest mean (SD) score [69.5 (25.7)] was obtained for “physical functioning,” while the lowest [52.9 (24.4)] was for “role limitations due to emotional problems.” There was a significant positive correlation between the quality of life and its sub-domains with sexual function (r?=?0.15–0.33) and marital satisfaction (r?=?0.15 to 0.49). Higher sexual function and marital satisfaction, higher educational level, and no prior history of depression were predictors of physical and mental components of health-related quality of life.

Conclusion

Physical and mental components of quality of life among women were moderate. Relieving sexual problems and dysfunction and improving marital satisfaction may improve women's quality of life and help to achieve a strong family life.

     

Influence of affective distractors on working memory capacity in relation to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder

Symptoms evoked in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when processing trauma‐relevant material arguably impair higher order cognitive functions. An example is working memory capacity (WMC), which has been shown to be disrupted by affective distractors. However, it is unknown whether this association varies across different types of PTSD symptoms. This study explored the association between WMC performed in affective (relative to neutral) contexts in relation to different symptoms of PTSD (avoidance, re‐experiencing, hyperarousal). Motor vehicle accident survivors with PTSD and without PTSD completed a delayed‐match‐to‐sample task including trauma‐related, neutral, and scrambled distractors in the interval between the presentation of the memoranda and the recognition target. The results showed that there was support for an indirect pathway between PTSD diagnosis and WMC performed in affective (versus neutral) contexts through re‐experiencing and avoidance symptoms. The findings suggest that avoidance symptoms in particular may benefit from interventions directed at improving WMC.     

Locus of control,anxiety, and depression in infertile patients

This study aimed to examine the relationship of locus of control (LoC) with anxiety and depression disorders, applying multivariate statistical techniques to control for the effects of demographic/fertility variables. This cross-sectional study included 312 infertile patients in a referral fertility center in Tehran, Iran via convenience sampling. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Levenson’s Locus of Control Scale were administered to all participants. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were used to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression. After controlling for demographic/fertility variables, hierarchical regression analyses showed that internal LoC was negatively associated with anxiety (β = –.213, p < .001) and depression (β = –.269, p < .001). Powerful others subscale was positively associated with anxiety (β = .176, p < .001), but there was no significant relationship between this subscale and depression (β = .047, p = .467). The findings of this study merit the understanding of the role of demographic/fertility characteristics and LoC orientations in anxiety and depression of infertile patients to identify beforehand those patients who might be at risk of experiencing high anxiety and depression and in need of support.     

Association of intimate partner violence with sociodemographic factors in married women: a population-based study in Iran

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a neglected public health issue in Iran. This study was conducted among married women residing in urban Rasht (northern Iran), to estimate the prevalence and frequency of different forms of IPV from husband and their associations with socio-demographic factors. We carried out a population-based cross-sectional survey with cluster sampling design from February to October 2015. The samples consisted of married women aged ≥ 18 years with total household in Rasht city (north Iran) as the sample frame. We administered the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) to estimate prevalence of past-year IPV. Of 2091 women, 57.1% had suffered psychological aggression, 27.6% physical abuse, 26.6% sexual abuse, and 6.9% injury. A significant association with IPV was found for women with, age ≤ 40 years, unemployed, low education, husband’s addiction and rented-householders. Women who experienced physical abuse, had less age at marriage than women without violence. Also women with sexual coercion had less length of marriage than other non-abused women. On logistic regression, the strongest predictor of psychological, physical and sexual abuse was unemployment of spouse, whereas for injury it was low educational level (<12 years) of women. Our findings suggest that risk of IPV is high in our population. There is an obvious need of preventive and treatment activities. Our findings point at that various forms of abuse are different from each other in terms of differing characteristics of the perpetrators and it might be that also different strategies are needed to reduce and prevent these violence. Confirmation by further research is needed.     

The Experience of Intimate Relationships Among Homosexual Men in Malaysia

Malaysia is relatively conservative regarding topics like sex, and, especially, research on homosexual relationships is scarce. The current study aims to understand the experience of intimate relationships among homosexual men in Malaysia using a phenomenological qualitative approach. A total of 12 participants of various ethnic backgrounds (between 21 and 35 years of age) were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling via the Malaysian-based LGBT-friendly Facebook group. Thematic analysis was applied for data analysis, and themes emerged through looking into the perception and practice of intimate relationships. The findings of the current study reflect that the hetero-normative perception of intimate relationships is common among the participants, and is compatible with the cultural norms. However, in terms of sexual practices, the findings show similarities with more liberal parts of the world, as open relationships and casual sex is common among homosexual men. Hence, open relationships are being adopted as a strategy to improve the survivability of the relationship instead of just to satisfy sexual needs. The findings highlight the lack of a frame of reference for homosexual relationships in Malaysia. The current study adds to the scarce research on homosexuality in this country, which could assist professional helpers to better understand the different dynamics and beliefs of relationships among homosexual men and the challenges they may face.     

The Impact of PREP Training on Marital Conflicts Reduction: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Iranian Distressed Couples

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP) training on marital conflict and marital satisfaction among a sample of distressed couples in Iran. The research procedure was experimental with a pretest, posttest, and follow-up design, including a control group. The sample included 76 volunteer couples among a sample of distressed couples who were randomly selected and assigned to the experimental or control group. They completed demographic questions, the Marital Conflicts questionnaire, and a revised Marital Satisfaction Inventory in pretest, posttest and at the 1-year follow-up. Results showed that PREP training effectively led to decreased marital conflict and improvement of marital satisfaction of couples at posttest and at the 1-year follow-up. The result of covariance analysis showed significant differences between the experimental and the control groups' marital conflict and marital satisfaction at posttest and at the 1-year follow-up.